Room 12 Schedule
Collins 407
Wednesday, April 15th, 2026
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Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition that affects approximately 14% of pregnancies worldwide and has significant implications for both maternal and neonatal health if left unmanaged. Accessible education regarding the pathology of GDM and its management is essential; without it, patients—especially in underserved and rural areas—struggle to find reliable information to address their concerns. My project aims to address the gap in patient education in rural Oregon (Silverton and Molalla) by enhancing the accessibility of GDM education through the provision of new educational tools.
Faculty Sponsor: Stasinos Stavrianeas
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Beyond the Biomedical (BM) model, which overlooks barriers, this paper analyzes psychological and social factors in physical therapy (PT) for chronic pain (CP) management. Considering CP can exist without tissue damage, a purely BM approach is insufficient. The Biopsychosocial model introduces a framework that adds psychosocial interventions within the scope of PT practice. Legal and ethical issues must be considered when examining psychosocial factors and their integration in PT. This paper examines PT approaches, clinical outcomes, and graduate curricula to evaluate how systems can prepare therapists to implement psychosocial care while meeting legal and ethical standards.
Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lockard
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Collegiate student-athletes face unique demands balancing academics and athletics, however little research has examined how sport season status affects stress and motivation in NCAA Division III athletes. This research study investigates whether season status (pre-season, in-season, post-season) impacts perceived stress and sport motivation. Standardized scales for life stress, academic stress, and sport motivation were administered to Willamette University student-athletes. This presentation will discuss my research findings, which indicate that in-season athletes reported higher levels of perceived life and academic stress compared to pre- and post-season athletes, while sport motivation did not differ significantly across the three season conditions.
Faculty Sponsor: Brandi Row Lazzarini
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science, Abendroth Research Award -
Debriefing is an interactive conversation held after emergency responses or training simulations during which responders recount events, discuss reactions, and plan future improvements. This practice is associated with improved clinical learning outcomes, operational efficiency and efficacy, and mental and emotional health. Collegiate Emergency Medical Services (EMS) groups face challenges unique from those faced by other EMS agencies, including increased academic and social stressors, increased responder turnover, and close familiarity with their patient population. This community outreach project developed simulation and case debriefing tools for Willamette University Emergency Medical Services, including protocols and scripts, to improve access to debriefing benefits.
Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lockard
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
When patients and doctors don’t share a language, communication can be tough. Professional interpreters help, but challenges still come up especially when interpreters and patients speak different Arabic dialects. Because Arabic varies widely by region, differences in words and pronunciation can affect how medical information is understood. AI translation tools are being explored as another option, but research shows they can make mistakes and miss cultural meaning. In this analytical view on interpreters, dialect differences, and AI tools I seek to understand how each affects communication in healthcare.
Faculty Sponsor: Brandi Row Lazzarini
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
The carnivore diet, which is promoted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, has recently become popular. This diet consists entirely of animal-based foods, is high fat, high protein, and lacks fiber. Simultaneously, colorectal cancer rates have skyrocketed, correlated with shifts in dietary patterns and inflammation due to gut microbial dysbiosis. Long-term, human-subjects research about the carnivore diet is limited, but results can be extrapolated from studies about similar diets, such as the ketogenic diet. This analytical paper uses rodent and human models of diet and gut health to identify how the carnivore diet impacts colorectal cancer risk.
Faculty Sponsor: Lucas Ettinger
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Msingi Soccer Academy is a non-profit organization based in Mukono, Uganda, with a mission to provide boys from underprivileged or socially marginalized areas with the opportunity to succeed in both soccer and life. Msingi aims to produce professional soccer players but previously had no access to the resources or knowledge required for strength and conditioning, which is essential for elite-level soccer players. This project created and implemented the strength and conditioning programs needed to develop the physical capabilities necessary for soccer players to compete at the highest levels.
Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lockard
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science, Abendroth Research Award -
“Fight Back with Neuromuscular” is an in-person, community exercise program that uses resistance training for older adults with Parkinson’s Disease, dementia, and post-stroke who are at a higher risk for falling. This program utilizes resistance training designed to overcome mobility difficulties. However, barriers such as travel and instructor availability still exist and can negatively impact the patrons’ engagement with exercise. For my community outreach project, I developed a remote tele-exercise program to support patrons' engagement with exercise and help them benefit from an active lifestyle.
Faculty Sponsor: Stasinos Stavrianeas
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is the most commonly injured ligament in female soccer players. The objective of the paper is to analyze the validity of using oral collagen supplements to help lessen the injury risk profile of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in female soccer players. Through a thorough critical analysis of the existing research literature, this paper will connect aspects of the physiological and anatomical structures of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament with oral collagen supplementation to determine whether inclusion of oral collagen supplementation can help reduce the injury risk of female soccer players Anterior Cruciate Ligaments.
Faculty Sponsor: Lucas Ettinger
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Individuals with Lynch Syndrome (LS) are at high risk of developing a spectrum of cancers at an early age, most commonly colorectal (CRC) and endometrial (EC). LS is one of the most common hereditary cancer syndromes, yet it remains severely under diagnosed. This project critically examines the existing research literature to determine the best approach to implementing reflexive screening for LS in patients diagnosed with CRC and EC. The implementation of universal reflexive screening will ensure adherence to existing recommendations and result in increased LS diagnosis rates.
Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lockard
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Anatomic education and reproductive system specific anatomy is plagued with misinformation for students in K-12. Lecture based general anatomy and reproductive education strategies are ineffective in this demographic. Active learning strategies have been studied for general human anatomy and are the basis for the use of human cadavers. These experiences are important to fostering curiosity and developing professionalism while learning about the human body. It is unknown if high schoolers can benefit from the same active-learning opportunities as their older peers. This study explored the learning outcomes of a single hour active-learning cadaver anatomy laboratory exposure in high schoolers.
Faculty Sponsor: Lucas Ettinger
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Kauluakalana is a community-based non-profit in Kailua, HI that brings together the Kailua community for ‘aina (land) restoration and cultural revitalization. In their mission to engage all of Kailua in their community garden, they have struggled to reach older populations due to the decline in functional ability that comes with aging. My community outreach project identifies the accessibility barriers to older adult participation in community gardens at Kauluakalana and offers recommendations on adaptations that can be made to improve community garden accessibility and increase older adult participation.
Faculty Sponsor: Stasinos Stavrianeas
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
The disability community is the only minority that anyone can become a part of at any point in time, making it relevant to everyone to create support systems for disabled individuals. Disability inherently involves losses, which can result in grief. In this community outreach project I created a website to combat the symptoms of disability-related grief in college students at Willamette University. The website focuses on defining disability grief, providing Willamette and non-Willamette resources, and connecting users to Willamette’s Disability Advocacy Club for social support.
Faculty Sponsor: Brandi Row Lazzarini
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Postmenopausal osteoporosis is traditionally attributed to estrogen deficiency, yet emerging evidence suggests the bone loss is also dependent on changes in the gut microbiome. Estrogen decline can disrupt microbial composition, increase intestinal permeability, and trigger immune-mediated bone breakdown. This paper examines the estrogen-gut-bone axis and evaluates whether targeting gut dysbiosis could prevent or reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women. By synthesizing current mechanistic and clinical evidence, this paper proposes microbiome-focused interventions as a potential preventative or treatment strategy that shifts attention toward the underlying contributors to bone loss.
Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lockard
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and III baseball players experience more frequent injuries during the preseason than Division I players. This discrepancy may be attributed to the NCAA’s preferential treatment – financial and administrative – of the Division I level over the Division II and III level. The purpose of this analytical paper is to highlight this occurrence and to propose recommendations and potential solutions to this critical issue.
Faculty Sponsor: Stasinos Stavrianeas
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
There exists a burnout crisis in youth athletics where 45% of promising young athletes quit due to psychological stress, such as burnout and anxiety. This community outreach project bridges the critical disconnect in youth sports by integrating a mental toolkit directly into the daily routines of high school boys' volleyball players. Moving beyond ineffective, traditional lecture-based Psychological Skills Training (PST), this initiative integrates mindfulness and PST directly into on-court practice routines. Utilizing evidence-based somatic resets and cognitive restructuring, this approach acts as a preventative measure, equipping athletes with practical tools to mitigate competitive stress.
Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lockard
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science
Thursday, April 16th, 2026
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Pole vault is a complex sport demanding precise technical form, and for High School athletes, the invert phase often presents a significant technical challenge. The fundamental purpose of this project is to implement a more motor learning focused approach to the vault, moving beyond some of the conventional coaching practices seen at this level. To address this gap, I implemented a specialized curriculum for a local High School that uses a series of progressive drills, mental modeling, and visual learning techniques to equip athletes with the skills to optimize the acquisition, retention, and transfer of complex movement skills.
Faculty Sponsor: Brandi Row Lazzarini
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
The demand for physical therapy is projected to increase due to an aging population and chronic disease. However, high productivity demands and workplace stressors contribute to clinician burnout and industry attrition. This project analyzes how soft variables such as trust between patient and provider, communication strategies, and patient engagement are important factors in patient recovery. This analysis will determine whether these soft variables can improve patient outcomes and reduce therapist burnout.
Faculty Sponsor: Brandi Row Lazzarini
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Heart attacks and strokes are the core of the high mortality rates and are strongly associated with atherosclerosis. Saunas have been associated with improving hypertension through improved endothelial function via improvements in nitric oxide production and heat shock protein expression in healthy individuals. From a comprehensive review of the existing research literature, this paper will explore the effectiveness of sauna treatments on atherosclerotic symptoms. Analysis of the literature demonstrates mechanisms are still not completely understood, but sauna usage provides favorable outcomes in conjunction with established treatment methods in atherosclerotic individuals.
Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lockard
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Subacromial Impingement Syndrome (SIS) accounts for 46% of shoulder-related orthopedic complaints and is the leading secondary morbidity following breast cancer, yet the etiology of its progression remains poorly understood. While healthy scapular mechanics are essential for preventing SIS, breast tissue changes during cancer treatment may induce pathological kinematics. This study investigates the influence of breast mass augmentation on scapular kinematics to clarify whether mass contributes to the mechanical alterations associated with SIS. These findings will inform future rehabilitative and preventative strategies. We hypothesize that increased breast mass will contribute to increased scapular anterior tilt and upward rotation.
Faculty Sponsor: Lucas Ettinger
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Psychotherapists spend substantial time writing notes, often after hours. This capstone project develops a plan for an AI scribe designed specifically for psychotherapy, where language and nuance matter. My presentation reviews research on AI scribes used in healthcare to identify what they do well, where they fail, and what safeguards are necessary. Based on this evidence, I outline practical design requirements for a prototype that drafts notes without “interpreting” the session and keeps the clinician in control. Key features include secure, minimal data retention, post-session note drafting, a therapy-friendly BIRP format, and built-in checks that encourage careful review.
Faculty Sponsor: Stasinos Stavrianeas
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Female athletes suffer a greater rate of ACL injuries than males, primarily due to anatomical, biomechanical, and neuromuscular risk factors. Considerable research support prevention programs that address each of these factors, but limited research exists on the role menstrual hormones play in ACL injuries. My community outreach projects aims to educate female athletes and those who work with them through a university presentation on hormonal impacts on the ACL and provide evidence-based strategies to reduce injury risk throughout the menstrual cycle.
Faculty Sponsor: Stasinos Stavrianeas
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
There is a widening gap of opportunities to participate in youth sports for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, especially those with high-support needs. My senior thesis identifies specific neurodivergent subtypes who will benefit from a set of evidence-based, personalized recommendations for sports participation. By establishing a starting point and creating a stepwise progression of skills, I aim to promote their integration into sport activities alongside their neurotypical peers to foster long-term physical and psychosocial health benefits.
Faculty Sponsor: Stasinos Stavrianeas
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Over 5.8 million people in the U.S. have an intersex variation, yet current medical and anatomical education does little to represent them. This paper aims to examine the disparities in representation of this demographic in scientific and medical literature. Identifying opportunities to bridge the gap within medical education and clinical care is vital for patient satisfaction and healthcare outcomes. This analysis uses objective measures from the literature to evaluate patient outcomes, physicians’ reflection on treating patients with intersex variations, and draws inferences from other minority groups’ experiences within healthcare to further understand disparities in literature and potential clinical outcomes.
Faculty Sponsor: Lucas Ettinger
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often face speech and language delays that hinder communication and socialization. Applied Behavioral Therapy (ABA) is a highly structured therapy and the most common ASD intervention, but its impact on language development is highly debated. This paper analyzes the effectiveness of ABA therapy compared to Naturalistic Behavioral and Developmental interventions (NBDI). By exploring these interventions, the research aims to address existing research limitations and proposes a hybrid clinical model. This approach integrates the rapid and early communication gains typical of ABA with the long-term social improvements fostered by naturalistic and developmental interventions.
Faculty Sponsor: Michael Lockard
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science -
Despite strong evidence supporting exercise for both the prevention and treatment of many chronic diseases, patient counseling regarding regular exercise remains underutilized largely due to inadequate education of the primary care providers (PCPs). Improved training through Continuing Medical Education is needed to equip PCPs with knowledge of the health benefits of regular physical activity, evidence-based activity guidelines, and exercise prescription. Effective training should also develop practical counseling skills and strategies to motivate patients to both initiate and maintain exercise behaviors. This work aims to strengthen physical activity training with the overall goal of improved long-term population health outcomes.
Faculty Sponsor: Stasinos Stavrianeas
Discipline: Exercise & Health Science